The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-10-22
OPPORTUNITIES.
Chances That Are offered to Most People
to Better Their Condition.

Chances That Are onersd to Most People
to Better Their Condition.
One of the many things desired by
the young is an opportunity, some open
ing, chance. A thoughtful, prudent
mind will ever be on the lookout for
these opportunities, and IL the tide be
taken at the flood it may lead on to
fortune. A cry which is often heard is.
We have no opportunity; the opening
OF which you speak is not presented to
us; we can not do the things we would;
our sphere Is narrow, confined, limited;
our spirit frets and chafes, and wears
itself out by beating against the bars
of our prison-house!' Now, while it
is undoubtedly true that there are those
who could do great things If the oppor-
tunity were offered them (although
even they might profitably read the
motto on the old scala seal represent
ing pickax uplifted ready to strike
"Eiti,er will find a way or make
one'O; on the other hand, it is equally
true that many who have these oppor-
tuuities fail to take advantage of them.
There are u few who can not recall in
stances, perhaps among their irimmediate
acquaintances of persons who have had
an opening, such as we have been de-
scribing. who have had every prospect
of getting on, and yet they have not sue
ceeded. 1t may be they lacked principle.
or firmness, or perseverance; it may be
that-as we sometimes say--thev had
no ballast; they were shifty, unstable,
flighty, and you could not get them to
| settle down, as their fathers did, to real
hard work, but, whatever the cause,
they made no progress; they did not
use the means placed within their reach,
and this neglect is followed by the in
evitable consequences. 1t depends very
much upon ourselves whether we make
our life splendid success or misera-
BILE failure.
Life is full of grand possibilities; nor
must we confine our view to this lin
tied sphere. 1t is here upon earth that
our characters are being formed it is
here that we are silently shaping our
destiny. You have, perhaps, stood and
watched workman molding some
thing with his hands. You observe
how he. very skillfully, very patiently,
and "little by little" fashions out OF
the rough mass before him an article
perfect in beauty of form and delicacy
of finish; and this, or the reverse, is
what we are daily doing with ourselves.
Our own characters, for good or fol
evil. are very much what we make
them. Day by day we are deepening
or effacing the lines already traced
every event of our lives is quietly,
noiselessly helping to mold and fashion
us.
But let us turn for moment to the
lighter aspect of the subject before us
How often do we hear the expression,
NEGLECTED opportunities!'' Like mos
pregnant phrases, these words, by the
wonderful association of ideas, remind
different individuals of different circum
stances. The orator thinks of the skill
full turn he might have given to the
question put to him during debate
but the opportunity passed by. Tho
surgeon thinks of the patient upor
whom an operation might have bee,
successful; but he hesitated, doubted
perhaps mistrusted his own power, ant
went on waiting until it was ''too late. ,
The barrister remembers cases whicl
would have been won for his client bu
some of the most important testimony
was not forthcoming when wanted
The merchant is reminded of the specu
lation which proved disastrous because
the time when he embarked in it wa
not opportune. Opportunities presen
themselves daily if we will only watcl
for them; but many permit them t.
pass away because they lack that de
cision of character and promptitude o
action which are essential to success
or if they do act it is too late.-Lonolo,
NeWS.